Friday, December 05, 2008

Concealed Carry Now Legal in National Parks

Concealed carry permit holders will now be able to carry protection from thugs, rapists and murderers in some national parks and wildlife refuges. The Department of the Interior has released new rules that allow a citizen to carry a concealed weapon in a park or wildlife refuge if the person has a CCW permit in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.

The rule overturns a 25 year old regulation that has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The previous regulations required that guns be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud.

19 Comments:

"if the person has a CCW permit in the state in which the national park or refuge is located."

This is great. It is about time we win one. Quick question, does the permit have to be from the state the park is in, or is reciprocity enough? Not sure if you know the answer to that but I'll give it a shot by asking you.

See page 6, top paragraph of http://www.doi.gov/issues/Final%20Rule.pdf

Concealed carry using another a permit from another state does appear to allowed as long as the two states have a reciprocal agreement.

[QUOTE]...Additionally, to the extent that a State's law recognizes licenses issued by other States, including the applicability of reciprocity agreements, the final rule would similarly recognize such reciprocal authorities...[/QUOTE]

And here in Texas due to some definition changes to the word "traveler." you can have it concealed in your automobile with out a CCW permit, as long as you meet 5 other basic criteria that the average joe could pass.

This is a good thin for me since I don't have a CCW permit yet and myself and a friend will be heading to Big Bend soon, and my biggest fear is drug runners coming over from Mexico. The area we will be in is very remote and the likely hood of having a park ranger near by for protection is slim to none.

Now I can finally go into National parks. I refused to go to any but State parks for this reason alone. Here in Arizona state parks "allow" CCW.

Whats missing from a lot of the reports is that a whole lot of crime occurs in National and State parks. Drug smuggling, growing weed, just plain thuggery on what is seen as a naive and defenseless population. I find it odd that the forest service, which has had rangers attacked and killed is so against this law.

Since my family are going to Yellowstone next year for vacation and Utah and Wyoming have reciprocity with Arizona I will be able to carry the entire time.

This is great for residents of Philadelphia. Due to its historic nature (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc) there are areas throughout the city that are considered National Parks. This meant you could have a PA permit to carry concealed, but if you strayed onto these areas while carrying, you would be breaking the law. And these areas are BIG - many city blocks in scope covering sidewalks as well, so it wasnt just INSIDE thee buildings.

FINALLY, the good folks can defend themselves in the wild from two-legged predators, while the latter will now think twice: "Are 'Joe and Josephine Camper' defenseless or now armed? Maybe I should go robbing someWHERE else."

Thanks, Xavier; you truly stay on top of it all -- and you're one busy dude... nurse, and cyclist, and a parent? How do you do it? [End of fawning comments]

Regards from Northern Virginia, home of http://dchandguninfo.livejournal.com

My li'l blog, called DC Handgun Info, is designed to help DC residents make smart decisions on personal protection. Keep up the good work.

You know I am glad of this too, but I will tell you, its for a different reason. I live up against Black Hills National Park where in the last couple of years there have been several attacks on humans by mountain lions. Also in Badlands National Park, and Buffalo Gap National Grassland snakes are a particular problem, especially at night when people like me are out with our telescopes stargazing.

The idea of a snub nose .357 with two loads of CCI snake shot and three 125gr HP makes me feel a lot safer. I'm not worried about thugs in the National Parks, but the reality that when people go out to commune with nature they put themselves back on the food chain.

Links to this post:

Xavier is a Registered Nurse who specialized in complex wound care. He has practiced for over fourteen years in his community. He often provided nursing service in areas where law enforcement refused to enter without back-up. Xavier now works in surgery.
Xavier has been an avid shooter for over 30 years. He strongly supports the 2nd Amendment, opposes gun control of any sort, and carries a weapon 24 hours a day.
Xavier is known on various internet gun forums as XavierBreath. He is married with three children, and is moderated by an apathetic one eyed cat, a goofy Golden Retriever, and a stalwart German Shepherd Dog. One day, he hopes to be deserving of them all.

Domari Nolo

Xavier can still be emailed at
treatmewithbenignneglect@gmail.com
He might read your email.
He might delete it on sight.
He might publish it and comment on it.

The Five Rules of Concealed Carry
1. Your concealed handgun is for protection of life only.
2. Know exactly when you can use your gun.
3. If you can run away -- RUN!
4. Display your gun, be prepared to go to jail.
5. Don't let your emotions get the best of you.